Method for transmitting data in a discontinuous coverage radio network

Abstract

To mash coverage discontinuities, e.g. of high and low bit rate zones, when transmitting especially multimedia data to a terminal (209), it is proposed to store the data of a multimedia data stream's basic flow to a basic cache memory (315) with higher priority than storing the data of at least one enhancement flow of a multimedia data stream to at least one enhancement cache memory (317, 319), at least when said terminal (209) is likely to leave a high bit rate zone. The invention addresses as well a multimedia module (205), a terminal (209) and a computer program product adapted to this handling of multimedia streams.

Description

[0001] The invention is based on a priority application EP 05 292 230.9 which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a method for transmitting data in a discontinuous coverage radio network to a terminal, said discontinuous coverage radio network comprising at least one high bit rate zone, and said discontinuous coverage radio network and / or said terminal comprising a cache memory. It further relates to a module for transmitting multimedia data in a discontinuous coverage radio network to a terminal, a terminal for use in a discontinuous coverage radio network for receiving multimedia data, as well as a computer program product for transmitting multimedia data in a discontinuous coverage radio network to a terminal. [0003] In mobile networks, the radio performances are usually not constant. Some kinds of traffic, e.g. real time traffic, have a higher priority compared to other kinds of traffic, for example in case of ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] By extrapolating the amount of data needed to bridge the time gap, while the end-user is not in a high bit rate zone, and anticipatorily filling the basic cache memory with at least this amount, it is made sure that the end-user will in any case get the demanded multimedia service without any disturbance in spite of the fact that he temporarily leaves the high bit rate zone. Furthermore, as the amount of basic flow data is more precisely known, eventually resources can be allocated to filling enhancement flow cache memories, too, or to any other tasks, while still having cached enough basic flow data for a good quality of experience.

Problems solved by technology

As soon as the terminal is back in a high bit rate zone, full service can be resumed by caching and further transmitting also enhancement data, which is improving the service, but not is not indispensable.

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